Improvement in washing-machines



T. E. MODONALD Washing-Machine.

Patented Dec. `23, 1879.

N. PETERS 5' ,E raras PrnNr THOMAS E. MCDONALD, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Spcciiication forming part of Lett-ers Patent No. 222,794, dated December 23, 1879 5 application tiled July 9, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS E. MGDONALD, of New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State ot' New Jersey, have made certain Improvements in Wasliing-llachines, of which the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is to improve the machine patented to me December 18,1875, No. 198,205, in such manner as that the endless felt belts of paper-making machines or ine textile fabrics in an endless sack can be washed in the machine without injury to the texture of the belt or fabric; and it consists in the con struction and arrangement of the operating parts, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side and sectional view of some ofthe parts, and Fig. 2 is a top view ot' the machine.

A represents the fratrie, which is made adjustable to the varying sizes ot' tubs or vats by the sliding cross-girt A', sliding in slots a in the sides of frame A, and secured to the tub or vat by the clamps a and a, the same as in the patent above cited. B is a uted, tlanged', and movable washing-roller on shaft b, which has bearing in the longitudinal side pieces of frame A, and to which shaft the means of rotation are attached. B B' are wide flan ges on the ends of the washing-roller B, and serve as guides to keep what is passing within the action of the rubbin g-rollers.

1f the machine is operated by power, the pulley B is placed on one end ot' shaft b for such purpose; ,but it' the machine is operated by hand a crank is put in place ofthe pulley.

C represents an endless sack, so made that its ends can be secured together, as at c, by any secure means. The things to be washed are placed in this sack, which is open at one end to receive such articles, and when the sack is filled evenly and properly, and its ends secured together, the liuted washing-roller B is raised up from its bearin g, and the sack C placed around it, when the roller B is let down into its bearings in the side pieces ot' frame A, and secured by the keepers c' c. The roller B, at

each end, has a flange, D, which prevents the sack C and its contents from traveling outside` ot' its proper direction.

E E are swinging arms, pivoted at one end to the side pieces of frame A, at e e, and at the other end to the head-pieces F F, that form a framing in which the rubbing-rollers f ff are journaled and revolve. This construction allows the rubbing-rollersf and their frame to be turned back on the arms E, so that the luted roller B can be lifted to place the endless sack C and its contents, or an endless felt belt, around the roller, and, so placed, the rubbing-rollers f are swung back upon the sack G and its contents; or, if it is a papermachine endless felt belt, it is placed around the roller in the same way, when the free part of sack C and its contents, or the belt, is submerged in water in the tank or tub that holds the water and detergent compounds to assist in removing the dirt from the fabric or belt. G G are coiledwire springs attached to hooks g g at the ends ot' frame F.

H H are screw tension-hooks having a long stem, h, that goes into the center opening ot' the coiled-wire springs, and has projections 7i h on each side of the stem, that take into the spaces between the convolutions of the wire, and by turning the hook H in one direction in the wire spring it acts like a screw,

and hence the length of the coiled sprin g can be shortened or lengthened on the hook, giving any degree of pressure ofthe rubbing-rollers f upon the revolving luted roller B. la." is the -hook part that hooks over stud h on frame A, making the connection iiexible between the tinted roller B and rubbing-rollers f. By releasing -thevhookfrom stud h'. the rubbinglrollers are free to be swung over to be out of the way of raising roller B.

I is a hook or other proper device on the top of the frame that holds the rubbing-rollers, to which can be attached any means of swinging the frame and their rollers back and out of the way of raising the tinted roller B.

This improved washer is specially adapted to receive and wash `the immense felt endless belts of paper-making machines, as the same can be placed around the uted roller B, and p the rubbingrollers brought down upon it, and any amount of force applied through the ten sion-hooks and springs when the roller` is revolved in one direction, and so moves the heavy mass of the beltalong under the rubbing-A rollers until the same is divested ot' all its dirt or adhering particles, and in so doing every part is Washed or acted npon alike, without danger of damage to the belt or its texture. AIt is also found that as a machine for lanndry`and family washing of tine fabrics, when they are placed in the endless sack and evenly spread, the most delicate silks, laces, and similar fabrics are cleansed Without danger to the fabric or the loss of a button on a garment. Another advantage is, all parts of the belt or sack and contents are equally exposed to the Water and the action of the machine.

Vhen such articles as endless belts or tine fabrics in an endless sac-k are to be Washed in a machine, the machine must be so constructed that the main roller can be easily reanoved, either Wholly or at one end, in order to get the endless belt or sack around it, and as this is accomplished inethis machine itsupplies a want long' desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- QQQWSL l. Ina Washing-machine for fabrics, thc endless sack C, to contain the thin gs to be washed, in combination with the removable roller B, constructed substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a machine for Washing endless belts and similar articles, the combination of the removable uted and flanged Washing-roller B and rubbing-rollersfff, jonrnaled in head F, which is pivoted to swinging arms E E, all constructed and operating substantially as described.

3. The combination of the removable futed roller B, the swinging rollers f, and the adjusting tension device, composed of the hooks H H, having projections h', and coiled spring` G, constructed and operating substantially as described.

THOMAS E. MGDONALD. Vit-nesses:

R. G. VAN PELT,

T. H. SKILLMAN. 

